Travel Tips and Itineraries
Here are five fascinating locations, unusual and free spots to admire the great beauty of the Eternal City, all easily accessible.
For an alternative and original tour of the Capital, follow our tips: during your vacation in Rome, with our travel itinerary, you’ll uncover curious and lesser-known places that you might not have had the chance to see before.
Discover them all!
The Owl Cottage
A place you probably don’t know, or perhaps haven’t had the chance to visit during your last trip to Rome, is Villa Torlonia. It’s an unusual spot to explore in the Capital, but we believe it could be the perfect inspiration for your next vacation in the Eternal City. Inside the park of the villa, you'll find the Museum of the Owl Cottage, hidden behind an artificial hill and a lush garden filled with plants and flowers. It's one of the hidden gems of the city. Its name comes from the recurring owl decorations, both on the stained glass windows and the tiles. Rome is full of great beauty, but if you’re looking for something beyond the usual cultural itineraries, this location could be your next destination!
The Claudio Aqueduct
The Claudio Aqueduct, the eighth Roman aqueduct in chronological order, was one of the most important aqueducts of ancient Rome, both for the advanced technologies used in its construction, and for the significant labor force involved, as well as the considerable expenses incurred to build it. Visit the park map and discover all the attractions it offers! The map is interactive and has been designed to work on any device: computer, tablet, and smartphone. You can also take advantage of the geolocation feature for mobile devices to explore the entire area without getting lost and easily find your favorite monuments!
The Staircase of Via Magnanapoli
There’s surely some part of the Eternal City you haven’t yet seen closely. Want to know how to get a stunning view of Trajan's Column? It’s simple: from the staircase of Via Magnanapoli in the Trevi district! There are various legends surrounding the name 'Magnanapoli,' but none of the theories seem entirely certain or convincing. The most plausible one suggests that the name comes from a thermal establishment in the area called 'Balnea Pauli,' which later became 'Balnea Napoli' and eventually 'Magnanapoli.' From the staircase of Via Magnanapoli, you can immediately reach the Trajan’s Markets, now home to the Museum of the Imperial Forums—another stop you definitely shouldn’t miss!
Optical Illusion on Via Niccolò Piccolomini
If you want to see the Eternal City from a different perspective, then you simply can't miss this special place! There’s a street where you can experience an extraordinary optical illusion: from Via Niccolò Piccolomini (in the Aurelio district), the Dome of St. Peter’s Basilica appears in a completely different way! The closer you get, the more the structure seems to move farther away. A magic trick or a little mystery that not everyone knows about! This optical illusion can be experienced with a walk along Via Piccolomini, or by any mode of transportation. The view of St. Peter's Dome is, in fact, an indescribable beauty from any other part of Rome, but this location is also perfect for wonderful sunset photos!
The Clivus Argentarius
The Clivus Argentarius is an ancient road in Rome that ran along the slopes of the Capitoline Hill, behind the Forum of Caesar. The word 'clivus' refers to a very steep road. The street led to the shops of the 'argentarium,' or money changers (the argentari), whose shops overlooked this street. Here’s why you should visit it: a section of the original cobblestones has been preserved, starting from the small square in front of the Tullianum Prison, just outside the archaeological area of the Roman Forum, and extending to the entrance of the Museum of the Risorgimento behind the Vittoriano. It’s a charming place that not many know about, so it's not overly crowded. It's perfect for capturing a beautiful panoramic photo of one of Rome’s hidden gems.